Hello friend,
Here are a few tips to get you started.
Classical Indian music assigns specific notes for each of the tubla drums, but these really only become important when playing with other instruments. type one; Bass=C# with Treble=F# (a perfect forth), or second type; Bass=C# with Treble=G# (a perfect fifth).
Personally I've yet to tune to any specific notes while I'm merely practicing on my own.
The Bass side is best tuned by striking the hard edges of the skin with a hammer either by swinging down (to bring the pitch up) or by very gently swinging up (to bring the pitch down). What is important is here is that the drum gives the same note all the way around the drum. Strike it near the edge of the skin at the various locations around the drum to check. When I tune my Bass I usually only hit it with my hand - I only use the hammer for severe changes in pitch.
Treble: The treble side is much more sensitive to proper tuning than the bass. Again you are aiming for an exact note to be sounding from every place around the outside edge of the drum. The overall sound of this drum will drastically improve when the entire drum is giving off the same note. At first this will be more difficult to hear, but time will train your ear. I do hope this has helped.
Happy tuning!
Marc
The key
playtabla (Mar 16, 2001 12:56 p.m.):
hey all,
can any one give me some tips on how to tune a
tabla, or knows any site that explains how to???
Marc my man thanks a million. . Before your suggestion I was hammering my tabla all-over. Now I am doing as you mention, and it seems to work. Again thanks much for your feedback.
Here are some important tips
#1 get a "Boss" guitar tuner that has a built in mike. I know some may frown on this but what I have found is that this saves many a puddi for new players and it actually improves your ear.
#2 play na and tin going around the head, when you find a specific spot that is high or low draw an invision a line across the head then invision a cross , play na on these four sections and tune them a bit first, once the points of your cross all sound fairly the same you can fine tune in between the cross sections. In case you don't understand what I'm saying remember never strike the puddi head only the outside band and dont hammer directly on your straps hammer inbetween them
playtabla (Mar 16, 2001 12:56 p.m.):
hey all,
can any one give me some tips on how to tune a
tabla, or knows any site that explains how to???
